Job 27:1-10

1 Having waited for Zophar, Job now resumed his defense:
2 "God-Alive! He's denied me justice! God Almighty! He's ruined my life!
3 But for as long as I draw breath, and for as long as God breathes life into me,
4 I refuse to say one word that isn't true. I refuse to confess to any charge that's false.
5 There is no way I'll ever agree to your accusations. I'll not deny my integrity even if it costs me my life.
6 I'm holding fast to my integrity and not loosening my grip - and, believe me, I'll never regret it.
7 "Let my enemy be exposed as wicked! Let my adversary be proven guilty!
8 What hope do people without God have when life is cut short? when God puts an end to life?
9 Do you think God will listen to their cry for help when disaster hits?
10 What interest have they ever shown in the Almighty? Have they ever been known to pray before?

Job 27:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 27

Though Job's friends were become silent, and dropped the controversy with him, he still continued his discourse in this and the four following chapters; in which he asserts his integrity; illustrates and confirms his former sentiments; gives further proof of his knowledge of things, natural and divine; takes notice of his former state of prosperity, and of his present distresses and afflictions, which came upon him, notwithstanding his piety, humanity, and beneficence, and his freedom from the grosser acts of sin, both with respect to God and men, all which he enlarges upon. In this chapter he gives his word and oath for it, that he would never belie himself, and own that he was an hypocrite, when he was not, but would continue to assert his integrity, and the righteousness of his cause, as long as he lived, Job 27:1-6; for to be an hypocrite, and to attempt to conceal his hypocrisy, would be of no advantage to him, either in life, or in death, Job 27:7-10; and was this his character and case, upon their principles, he could expect no other than to be a miserable man, as wicked men are, who have their blessings turned into curses, or taken away from them, and they removed out of the world in the most awful and terrible manner, and under manifest tokens of the wrath and displeasure of God, Job 27:11-23.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.